Sam Farr: “I rise also with the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Peace Corps. It was…”

“I rise also with the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Peace Corps. It was founded on March 1, 1961 when President John F. Kennedy signed the legislation launching the Peace Corps. Since then, more than 162,000 Americans have served and returned to this United States, having served in 134 different countries. Six now serve in the House of Representatives, three Republicans and three Democrats: the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri), the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays), the gentleman from New York (Mr.Walsh), myself, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall), and the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda). More than 67,000 volunteers are in the field today teaching in elementary schools, high schools and technical schools, building water systems and agricultural co-ops, teaching health care, and treating people in need. But, Mr. Speaker, we need to do more. The demand for the Peace Corps is at an all-time high. More host countries want volunteers. The interest in serving in this country is at an all-time high. In fact, only about one out of nine people that have shown interest have a space abroad, because Congress has not fully funded the Peace Corps. The goal was to have 10,000 volunteers in the field by 2000. We only have 7,000. We need to do a better job. Fully fund the Peace Corps. Mr. Speaker, it has been 38 years since I joined the Peace Corps, and I rise today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Peace Corps.”